- TFC Ethos
- About Us
- TFC's Service Commitment
- TFC History
-
Our Ethos
At The Flash Centre, we believe in providing photographers with the tools to take their careers to the next level, but we don’t just mean the physical tools! Sure, a nice camera and some studio strobes might help kick start things, but it’s the knowledge with which to master them that can make a huge difference to your work. Whether over the phone, in-store, in one of our studios, at your studio, or in a workshop, we believe in empowering you with the knowledge to make the right purchase first time.
-
About Us
The Flash Centre (TFC) have been the UK’s leading studio lighting specialists for over thirty years. Dedicated to helping you with all your lighting and digital imaging needs, TFC staff have a wealth of experience in the various fields that make up our industry. We will always do our best to help and offer the best advice we can.
If you're looking to test gear out before taking the plunge on a purchase, we’ve got you covered! At TFC, we offer rental facilities, 'try before you buy' deals, and we hold a wide range of demonstration equipment in store for you to come in and try out.
TFC supplies a wide range of other carefully chosen branded products from a variety of suppliers, including Elinchrom, Canon, Fujifilm, Manfrotto, Phottix, Nikon, Tether Tools, Sekonic, Broncolor, Colorama, Calibrite, ColorConfidence, Rogue, Benro and many more.
In short, whatever your needs, we will try our best to help and empower you with the knowledge to make the right purchase. The Flash Centre looks forward to hearing from you soon. -
The Flash Centre – Service Commitment
Pre-Sale Expertise:
Dedicated to helping you with all your lighting and digital imaging needs, TFC staff have a wealth of experience in the various fields that make up our industry and hold the UK’s most in-depth understanding of the Elinchrom & Phottix studio lighting brands.
Try Before You Buy Facility:
Thinking of purchasing something but want to try it out first? Our rental service will help you ensure you’re getting the perfect product. Everything we rent out is available to try at your leisure, using our unique 'Try Before You Buy' scheme. When you rent something and subsequently buy it, we'll give you half of the rental fee back (Ts & Cs apply).
Competitive Pricing:
Not only do we believe in providing the best possible service, but we always aim to offer the best prices as well. As part of our price promise, we regularly check the market for the lowest prices, so you don’t have to. Seen a better price? No problem, we’ll aim to match it whilst maintaining our dedicated and personable approach to customer service.
Credit Facility:
Open a credit account with TFC and you’ll benefit from extended payment terms, deposit free rentals, the freedom to have orders shipped anywhere in the UK and the flexibility to have a third-party pick-up kit on your behalf. Ask us for more information about our credit account options and how to open one.
After-Sale Technical Support:
We won’t forget about you once a sale has completed. If you need help troubleshooting an issue, advice using a product feature, or assistance getting the most out of your purchase, we are on hand to help for the lifetime of your purchase. Whatever the query, no matter how small, we’re committed to helping you achieve!
On-Going Product Training:
Need some more in-depth information? At TFC, we can provide face to face tuition to you and your team, either at our in-house studios at TFC Birmingham & London, or your studio at a time that suits you.
If your kit fails within warranty, that’s no problem. We will provide free-of-charge loan gear so you can keep shooting until your kit is replaced or repaired (T & C’s apply).
Reduced Rate Rental During Service:
If you have a kit failure out of warranty, we’ve got you covered. If your kit is in for service, rent a replacement from an extensive range of camera and studio equipment, half price! -
Our History
The Flash Centre has been a leading retailer and rental house of studio lighting for over 30 years. Today, lighting for stills and video remains at the heart of TFC, but our expertise doesn't end there. We have extensive knowledge in everything photography, from mirrorless to medium format, tripods to tethering cables, gimbals to gaffer tape, and much, much more!
1968
Malcolm Whittle bought Clark’s Cameras in Yeadon. He injects into this the second-hand camera sales business that he has been building for the last five years, and the business is re-named Yeadon Camera centre.
1971
Yeadon Camera Centre is sold, and Malcolm opens up a new store in the Merrion Centre, Leeds, re-naming it the Leeds Camera Centre.
1973
Leeds Camera Centre opens in London and by 1988 has professional premises in Leeds, London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
1980
Specialising in the importation and distribution of Elinchrom studio flash, and rent and service for the burgeoning London Professional Photographic market, Photographic Studio Consultants Ltd starts trading as The Flash Centre, based in The Brunswick Centre in London, just doors away from Leeds Camera Centre and Kodak.
1988
Quadrant Group PLC buys Leeds Camera Centre (now re-named Leeds Photovisual), whilst The Flash Centre remains with Malcolm.
1989
Malcolm buys Elinchrom in Switzerland, and the family continue to run The Flash Centre in the UK.
1989
Chris Whittle takes over the running of The Flash Centre and in the years to 1997, buys Malcolm out, and focuses on broadening the product range and operational scope of the business. The Flash Centre opens a branch in Leeds.
2004
TFC opens a small branch in Birmingham with a demonstration studio next door.
2005
The website is created, and TFC online becomes a reality.
2006
The Flash Centre Leeds moves into shared premises with the Leeds processing laboratory C.C.Imaging.
2018
In London, The Flash Centre moves from The Brunswick Centre to Fountayne Road in Tottenham with studio demo facilities and a Gigabit line for streaming live events.
2020
LUMESCA Group acquires The Flash Centre from Chris Whittle and other family shareholders.
“Joining forces with the LUMESCA team broadens our specialisations from creative light and image capture to include critical colour management and optimised image output.“